Koblenz: the German Corner and a national heirloom.

At the famous Deutsches Eck, or German Corner, where the Rhine and Moselle converge, lies one of Germany's oldest and most beautiful towns – Koblenz. Vineyards, forests and four mountain ranges form the backdrop to the city, whose 2,000-year history has given rise to beautiful churches and castles, palatial residences and grand town houses.

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The Romans, and later the Teutonic Order, were among the first to prize the majestic scenery of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. More recently UNESCO has recognised the area's outstanding beauty by awarding it world heritage status. Central to this heritage is the Deutsches Eck at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle. In 1891 Kaiser Wilhelm II deemed this historic landmark, given its name by the knights of the Teutonic Order, the perfect site for a special monument. Here people could give thanks to his grandfather, Wilhelm I, the man who unified the German Empire. Alas, the statue was reduced to rubble in 1945, and in May 1953 Theodor Heuss, President of West Germany, declared the remaining plinth a poignant monument to German unity. Finally, in 1993, a replica of the statue was raised into position on the plinth, where it towers majestically over the two rivers at a height of 37 metres. Every year the impressive structure attracts more than two million visitors. Towering on the opposite side of the Rhine is Ehrenbreitstein, Europe's second-largest preserved fortress. At nearly 120 metres above the river, this is the perhaps the best place to enjoy views of Koblenz. Just beyond the fortress lies the site of the 2011 Federal Horticultural Exhibition, now a popular public park and outdoor venue. The cable car built especially for the show is still in operation, transporting visitors back to the western bank of the Rhine – the perfect place to begin a leisurely stroll through the beautiful old quarter.

French joie de vivre and German tradition have produced a truly unique cultural fusion in Koblenz, characterised by cosy wine taverns, a genuinely welcoming atmosphere and great food – from gourmet cuisine to hearty fare. People come to Koblenz from all over the world to soak up this charm amid the narrow lanes, tucked-away corners and delightful city squares. A stroll through the old quarter could begin at the four towers, as the oriels of four baroque houses are known – one on each corner of the area's main street crossing. At the Hauptwache guardhouse from 1689, guns, flags, muskets and horns serve as a reminder of the soldiers who carried out police duties here. Further along is the Schängel fountain, which stands in the courtyard of the town hall. This famous landmark harks back to the time around 1800, when Koblenz belonged to France and a conspicuously large number of boys were christened Jean – which became Schang and then Schängel in the local dialect. We can only assume that some of these boys must have been rascals, because at irregular intervals the figure in the fountain spits out a powerful stream of water onto unsuspecting passers-by! The Deutscher Kaiser is also worth a visit. This is not another monument as its name might suggest, but a Gothic tower house that now boasts a delightful restaurant on the ground floor. It's the perfect spot to enjoy a glass of fine wine before taking the ferry to Stolzenfels Castle. Your boat passes by the Electoral Palace en route to this most impressive example of early Prussian art and cultural history. The people of Koblenz appreciate contemporary art as well, as is clear from the Ludwig Museum close to the Deutsches Eck. Its collection contains mainly post-1945 art, including works by Pablo Picasso, Jean Dubuffet, Pierre Soulages and Serge Poliakoff to name but a few. It's such an exciting contrast: modern art in medieval walls, classics of the modern age in a captivating historical city. But don't take our word for it. Come and see for yourself!

Back in the days of the Kaiser: Deutsches Eck

It may sound like a German bar, but the Deutsches Eck (German Corner) is actually a spit of land at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle. It got its name from the Teutonic Order of Knights which settled here in 1216 and a monument to Kaiser Wilhelm I was built here to commemorate the unification of the German Empire. Dedicated in 1897, destroyed in 1945, declared a memorial to German unity in 1953 and reconstructed in 1993, the 37m-high monument now attracts more than 2 million visitors every year and since 2002 it has been part of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley UNESCO World Heritage site.

A bastion of honour: Ehrenbreitstein Fortress

At 118 metres high overlooking the Rhine, Ehrenbreitstein Fortress offers the most stunning views of Koblenz, the surrounding vineyards and the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. The second-largest preserved fortress in Europe, it was built in its present form between 1817 and 1828. However, its origins date back as far as 1000 AD and the most recent archaeological excavations show evidence of a pre-Christian settlement. This architectural gem is in a class of its own along the Rhine. Almost completely preserved, it is open to the public, along with some parts of the excavations.

Chivalry on the Rhine: Stolzenfels Castle

Stolzenfels Castle sits in splendour on the site where the borders of the electorates of Trier, Mainz and Cologne once met. Today the castle is considered a striking masterpiece and an important symbol of Romanticism on the Rhine. The gate building, Gothic residential tower, main castle building with vaulted banqueting hall, pergola garden and keep are all open to the public. Parts of the castle feature furniture, paintings and sculptures dating from the 16th to the 18th century, while the banqueting hall has a collection of historical weapons and flags. Other attractions include the wall paintings in the chapel, amongst which are some of the best preserved mural cycles by artists of the Düsseldorf school. Read more

A Roman favourite: the Middle Rhine

The Upper Middle Rhine Valley, one of the oldest and most magnificent cultural landscapes in the whole of Europe, is also considered the epitome of Romanticism on the Rhine. The approx. 65km section between Koblenz and the towns of Bingen and Rüdesheim was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 2002 in recognition of the beauty and diversity of this stretch of the river. It also boasts an impressive number of castles, fortresses and palaces. Around 40 such buildings between Koblenz and Bingen illustrate the strategic importance of the Rhine in centuries gone by. Read more

Romanticum

This new interactive exhibition depicts the many faces and features of the romantic Middle Rhine Valley.

Imagine yourself on a fantasy-filled steamboat voyage through time, experience the romance of the Rhine close up and get to know the river, with its legends and fairytales, in all its amazing diversity. This 800m² exhibition is housed in Koblenz's Forum Confluentes arts centre.

Opening times:

daily 10am-6pm

Middle Rhine Museum

The focus of the comprehensive permanent exhibition in the new Middle Rhine Museum in Koblenz is on the picture collection as well as on various sculptures and arts-and-crafts objects.

The permanent exhibition takes up the entire first floor. In addition to this, the museum has a flexible exhibition space in the basement as well as dedicated areas for its collection of drawings and prints and its museum library. All of which have contributed to the museum finally receiving the appreciation it deserves.

Opening times:

Tuesday-Thursday 10.30am-5pm, Sunday & public holidays 11am-6pm

Ludwig Museum in the Deutschherrenhaus

The Deutschherrenhaus, the first settlement of the Teutonic Order Knights in Rhineland, is the living embodiment of Koblenz's rich history.

This can be seen from its location on the Deutsches Eck, the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. Here it faces the Kaiser Monument, the memorial to Wilhelm I, which in 1992 was restored to its original form along with the museum building. The Ludwig Museum provides a unique connection to the art of today, particularly that of France, and benefits from its links to the Peter and Irene Ludwig Foundation and its portfolios in numerous museums both in Germany and abroad.